BCM4916 process node?

[TheLostSwede]

We still see 11ax devices with integrated WiFi - couple of reasons for that...

With an integrated solution, all traffic remains on chip, and does not have the limitations of PCIe or RGMII/SGMII - this also allows for lower cost PCB's...

You're right, some of the really low-end stuff is still like that.

 

[jasz]

The problem with those cheaper SoCs is that they pool resources.

I think major brands suck at marketing. I would have abused Broadcoms "Penta core" marketing for modern stuff.

WIFI 7 router with 7-8 cores!!! A53 Quad + 1 core for each 4x4 radio

 

[jixiangyuan]

The problem with those cheaper SoCs is that they pool resources.

I think major brands suck at marketing. I would have abused Broadcoms "Penta core" marketing for modern stuff.

WIFI 7 router with 7-8 cores!!! A53 Quad + 1 core for each 4x4 radio

Well, ZTE markets their BE7200Pro+ as 8 cores & 64 threads. Yes, 64 threads, you heard that right

The CPU it uses is ZX279133, a dual core A53 processor.

中兴（ZTE）问天BE7200Pro+ 拆机评测-路由器交流

中兴（ZTE）问天BE7200Pro+是中兴的第一款上市的Wi-Fi 7无线路由器，通过拆机和简单的测试看看它表现如何。 一、折机 中兴问天BE7200Pro+的外包装： 兴字图腾： “问天”： 机身和配件： 六类网线： 电源输出规格是12V/2.5A，实测插上两个2.5G网口后...

www-acwifi-net.translate.goog

 

[sfx2000]

You're right, some of the really low-end stuff is still like that.

Yep, and for two-stream dual band mesh nodes, they're fine - QCA has sold a shedload of IPQ4018's just for that purpose...

 

[sfx2000]

I think major brands suck at marketing. I would have abused Broadcoms "Penta core" marketing for modern stuff.

I agree - should be really limited to the number of accessible cores - the ones in the wifi radios shouldn't count, as those typically are running an RTOS that is local inside the chip itself that is not directly accessible

 

[jasz]

I agree - should be really limited to the number of accessible cores - the ones in the wifi radios shouldn't count, as those typically are running an RTOS that is local inside the chip itself that is not directly accessible

The problem is brands market SoCs vs the main A53 variants.. It's skewed.

IE BCM6755 quad vs A53 quad is a completely different metric in a BCM router. SoC pools its quad for both NPU and CPU purposes.

 

[sfx2000]

The problem is brands market SoCs vs the main A53 variants.. It's skewed.

IE BCM6755 quad vs A53 quad is a completely different metric in a BCM router. SoC pools its quad for both NPU and CPU purposes.

I've seen similar claims - Qualcomm IPQ8065 is a good example - It's a dual-core Qualcomm Krait, also also includes two ubi32 nss cores - I've seen some quote this as a quad-core setup, which is technically true, but I would consider it a dual-core chipset...

It's much like quoting the entire aggregate bandwidth of a tri-band device rather than the realistic numbers..

But hey, it's marketing at the end of the day...

 

[jasz]

I've seen similar claims - Qualcomm IPQ8065 is a good example - It's a dual-core Qualcomm Krait, also also includes two ubi32 nss cores - I've seen some quote this as a quad-core setup, which is technically true, but I would consider it a dual-core chipset...

It's much like quoting the entire aggregate bandwidth of a tri-band device rather than the realistic numbers..

But hey, it's marketing at the end of the day...

Yeah it's marketed as a quad on QCA site

Not sure if they ever changed it for current BE generation, but AX gen IPQ8072/A was similar with NSS on chip. Original clock speed was 1.5ghz at launch.. Got boosted to 1.7ghz with "A" revision.

So.. we kinda have to look at this two ways.. Do SoCs actually count? I mean BCM just pools everything.. I'd consider something like a "BCM6755" more like a dual core with a weaker A7 design given all "radio" functionality has to mesh in main pool.

The high end BCM designs are more linear to whatever QCA is doing for most chips, granted I never looked into the cheaper units.

IE: IPQ8072A + 4x4 + 4x4 chip is linear to a BCM4912 + 4x4 + 4x4 with NSS/NPU on radio side.

Edit: Also want to mentioned... Where previous Broadcom AC W2 3x3 chips had 800mhz A7s for NPU functionality (the original "Penta core"), current BCM6710 (3x3) or BCM6705 (2x2) will load off a main CPU like the traditional 3x3 BCM4360.

So you theoretically have even less CPU functionality if you were to pair something like a gen 1 or 2 AX BCM675X SoC with a 6705 for a 2x2+2x2+2x2 triband design.

Is it fair for Broadcom and manufacturer to market it as a quad core?

Something like an AX88U PRO woud have a true A53 quad + 1.7ghz NPU functionality separate to each 6715 4x4 radio. Which is closer to What Qualcomm does in one bigger SoC.